Bottom line: Korea in November is late autumn: Seoul averages about 7.5°C (3.5°C to 12°C across the day), the foliage peak moves from the northern mountains to the south during the month, and the first ski resorts and kimjang (kimchi-making) season start near the end. Pack layers and a warm coat, and plan colour spots by date, not by city (weather and dates as of 16 October 2026).
Quick Korea Travel Guide
Getting in: Landing at Incheon? See every airport-to-Seoul option.
Stay in touch: Get a Korea eSIM from Airalo before you fly; mountain valleys can have patchy signal, so save offline maps.
Download first: Naver Map and Kakao T.
Where to book: Seoraksan autumn foliage day tour on KKday or the Seoraksan foliage tour on GetYourGuide.
Getting around: T-money vs Climate Card.
For more planning: Korea Travel Toolkit.
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Korea in November sits between the October foliage rush and the December festivals. This guide uses the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) 1991-2020 normals, the 2026 foliage forecasts published by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and the Korea Forest Service, and last winter’s ski openings. For the whole year, see the best time to visit Korea; for the next month, Korea in December.
Quick answer
- Weather: Seoul daily mean 7.5°C, typical high 11.9°C, low 3.5°C, about 51 mm of precipitation and 2.3 snowy days (KMA 1991-2020).
- Foliage: KTO’s 2026 forecast puts Bukhansan (Seoul) at peak around 4 November, Naejangsan around 11 November and Hallasan around 13 November.
- Pack: thermal layer, sweater, windproof coat, scarf, gloves for evenings and mountains, and waterproof shoes.
- Events: Seoul Autumn Festa (18 September to 29 November 2026) and the Gumi Ramyun Festival (6 to 8 November 2026).
- Ski: the first resorts opened on 21 November in 2025, so late November is the earliest realistic window.
- Kimjang: the communal kimchi-making season begins in the second half of the month (section 5).
Day tour · Seoraksan · via KKday
Seoraksan National Park Autumn Foliage Day Tour from Seoul
⭐ 4.8/5 from 46 KKday reviews · sold 200+ · about 11 hours, English and Mandarin guiding · free cancellation 3 days before (as of Oct 2026)
What this guide covers
1. Korea in November Weather by City (KMA Normals)
These are 30-year averages from KMA’s Climatological Normals of Korea (1991-2020). Real weeks vary by several degrees, and wind makes evenings feel colder, so treat them as a packing guide.
| City (station) | Daily mean | Typical high | Typical low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 7.5°C | 11.9°C | 3.5°C | 51 mm |
| Chuncheon (Nami Island area) | 5.3°C | 11.2°C | 0.4°C | 48 mm |
| Gangneung (east coast, near Seoraksan) | 9.5°C | 14.0°C | 5.6°C | 81 mm |
| Daegu | 9.4°C | 14.9°C | 4.8°C | 30 mm |
| Busan | 11.9°C | 16.6°C | 8.3°C | 50 mm |
| Jeju City | 13.3°C | 16.4°C | 10.4°C | 70 mm |
Seoul has about 2.3 snowy days in November on average, Jeju City 0.4 and Busan 0.1. Snow is possible but usually light; in 2013, Seoul had its first snowfall on 18 November, while maples still carried leaves. Mountains and the northeast are colder: Chuncheon’s typical low is just above freezing. For month-by-month context, see Best Time to Visit Korea.
2. Autumn Foliage in November: Peak and End Dates for 2026
Two official bodies publish forecasts, and they differ by up to a week for the same mountain. The KTO forecast (a Weatheri model) is on VisitKorea; the Korea Forest Service released its prediction map on 22 September 2026 and defines peak as at least 50% of leaves changed.
| Mountain / area | KTO forecast peak | Korea Forest Service peak | Best city base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoraksan (Sokcho) | 25 Oct | 20 Oct | Sokcho, or a day trip |
| Bukhansan (Seoul) | 4 Nov | – | Seoul |
| Songnisan (Boeun) | 4 Nov | 28 Oct | Boeun or Cheongju |
| Jirisan | 5 Nov | – | Gurye or Namwon |
| Naejangsan (Jeongeup) | 11 Nov | 4 Nov | Jeonju |
| Hallasan (Jeju) | 13 Nov | 6 Nov | Jeju City |
The Forest Service also forecasts species peaks for ginkgo around 30 October and maples and oaks around 31 October, and says this year’s timing is about 0.8 days later than the five-year average. Use the later of the two dates if you are planning around a specific mountain. As a rule of thumb, good colour lasts about a week after the forecast peak, so the north and centre are mostly past their best by around 20 November, while the south and Jeju hold colour into the second half of the month.
Where to see foliage in Seoul in November
VisitKorea’s foliage pages name Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul Forest, Olympic Park and Seokchon Lake for city colour, and highlight the ginkgo trees along the Deoksugung Stone Wall Path and at Sungkyunkwan University’s Myeongnyundang. Outside the city, Nami Island and the Garden of Morning Calm (see Nami Island and Petite France) peak earlier in the month than Jeju. Weekday mornings are calmest; palace areas are packed on weekends.
Foliage day tours from Seoul
Seoraksan is a long day trip, so most visitors book a tour. This GetYourGuide Seoraksan autumn foliage tour lists 12 to 13 hours with English guiding. The Mt. Seorak, Nami Island and Garden of Morning Calm tour adds two more stops in 14 hours.
Day tour · Seoraksan · via GetYourGuide
Seoul: Mt. Seoraksan National Park Autumn Foliage Day Tour
⭐ 4.6/5 from 23 GetYourGuide reviews · 12 to 13 hours · from ₩86,282 · free cancellation up to 24 hours (as of Oct 2026)
Day tour · Seoraksan, Nami, Garden of Morning Calm · via GetYourGuide
Seoul: Mt.Seorak, Nami Island & Garden of Morning Calm
⭐ 4.8/5 from 924 GetYourGuide reviews · 14 hours · from ₩116,385 · English guide, pickup available (as of Oct 2026)
3. What to Pack for Korea in November
- Core: thermal base layer, sweater or fleece, windproof coat, scarf and thin gloves. Mornings and evenings in Seoul sit near 3.5°C.
- Feet: comfortable waterproof shoes; leaf-covered paths get slippery after rain.
- Mountains: an extra mid-layer, a hat and a small daypack. Add a rain shell if you hike Seoraksan.
- Cheap fixes in Korea: gloves, hand warmers and thermals are sold at Daiso and convenience stores. Winter basics are on the full Korea packing list.
- Entry rules: check the e-Arrival card and the K-ETA page, because the temporary K-ETA exemption list currently runs to 31 December 2026 (see the K-ETA guide).
4. Festivals and Events in November 2026
- Seoul Autumn Festa: 18 September to 29 November 2026, an arts programme across the city listed on Seoul’s festival portal and Visit Seoul.
- Gumi Ramyun Festival: 6 to 8 November 2026 in Gumi, North Gyeongsang (VisitKorea’s 2026 festival list).
- Korea Grand Festival: the 2025 shopping-and-culture festival ran 29 October to 9 November. Confirm the 2026 dates on VisitKorea before you plan shopping around it.
- College entrance exam (Suneung): Thursday 19 November 2026, per the Ministry of Education. Keep noise down near schools and exam sites.
- Seoul Kimchi Festival: past city editions ran at Seoul Plaza in early November (for example 1 to 3 November 2019). Check the FUN SEOUL portal for a 2026 edition.
5. Kimjang Season and Kimchi Classes
Kimjang, the communal making of kimchi for winter, was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013. Households in Korea typically make it between mid-November and early December, when it gets cold enough. As a visitor, the easy way in is a class. Read the kimchi guide for what to eat and where.
The Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Rice Wine Pairing suits cooks, and the vegan Kimchi-Making and Bojagi wrapping class near Hongdae suits vegetarians.
Cooking class · Seoul · via GetYourGuide
Seoul: Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Rice Wine Pairing
⭐ 4.9/5 from 66 GetYourGuide reviews · from ₩93,000 · taste four kinds of kimchi and cook one dish (as of Oct 2026)
Vegan class · Hongdae · via GetYourGuide
Seoul: Kimchi-Making and Traditional Gift Wrapping w/ Lunch
New listing · from ₩110,000 · vegan kimchi, bojagi wrapping and lunch (as of Oct 2026)
6. Ski Season Start in Korea
Korean resorts open when snowmaking allows, and announce days ahead. In the 2025-26 season Phoenix Snow Park and Yongpyong opened on 21 November, High1 planned 28 November, Vivaldi Park opened on 5 December and Konjiam planned an early-December opening, according to Asia Business Daily. If you are in Korea in the last week of November, check resort sites, then read ski trips from Seoul for prices and shuttles.
7. Where to Stay and What It Costs in November
November is a busy shoulder month: weekends at palaces and foliage spots are crowded, and domestic tourists fill mountain-town rooms. Book Seoul hotels near palaces early. N285 Hotel Insadong puts you near Insadong and Bukchon, and you can compare areas in where to stay in Seoul. For a budget, see Korea trip cost and how much cash to bring.
Hotel pick · Insadong · via Agoda
N285 Hotel Insadong
⭐ 8.7/10 from 7,218 Agoda reviews · about 300 m from Insadong · 448 m from Jonggak Station · walk to Bukchon Hanok Village (726 m) (as of Oct 2026)
Also on Expedia: N285 Hotel Insadong · Trip.com
Mistakes to Avoid
- Using one foliage date for the whole country: peaks run from mid-October in the north to mid-November in the south.
- Visiting Seoraksan on a weekend at peak: parking and cable-car queues are the worst of the year.
- Packing for October: Seoul’s typical low in November is 3.5°C and mountains are colder.
- Assuming ski lifts run in early November: openings follow snowmaking, usually from 21 November at the earliest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weather in Korea in November?
Seoul averages 7.5°C with typical highs near 12°C and lows near 3.5°C, per KMA 1991-2020 normals. Busan and Jeju City are milder at about 12°C and 13°C, while Chuncheon is closer to 5°C.
Is November a good time to visit Korea?
Yes. Foliage peaks across central and southern regions, skies are generally clear, and crowds are lower than in October. It is cold enough for a proper coat.
When do the autumn leaves peak in Seoul in 2026?
KTO forecasts Bukhansan at peak around 4 November. City ginkgo and maple spots, such as palace grounds and the Deoksugung stone wall path, usually peak at the same time or a few days later.
Does it snow in Korea in November?
Sometimes. Seoul averages 2.3 snowy days in November, and the first snowfall of 2013 was on 18 November. Heavy snow is rare before December.
What should I pack for Korea in November?
A thermal layer, sweater, windproof coat, scarf, gloves and waterproof shoes. Add a rain shell for hikes and a hat for mountains.
When does kimjang season start?
Households usually make kimjang from mid-November to early December, depending on temperature. Seoul has held a public Kimchi Festival at Seoul Plaza in early November in past years.
When does ski season start in Korea?
Phoenix Snow Park and Yongpyong opened on 21 November in 2025. Resorts announce their 2026-27 openings days ahead, depending on snowmaking.
Do I need a K-ETA to visit Korea in November 2026?
Many nationalities are exempt until 31 December 2026, but not all. Check the K-ETA eligible-countries page before you fly.
Planning December Next?
Read Korea in December for festivals, light shows and ski season, and Christmas in Seoul for the holiday weeks. Compare spring in Cherry blossom Korea 2027.
Sources (official pages checked)
- Korea Meteorological Administration, Climatological Normals of Korea (1991-2020)
- VisitKorea, 2026 Fall Foliage Forecast (8 September 2026)
- VisitKorea, 2025 Fall Foliage Forecast (Seoul spots)
- The Kyunghyang Shinmun, Korea Forest Service 2026 foliage prediction map (22 September 2026)
- VisitKorea, Korea’s TOP 14 Autumn Festivals in 2026
- FUN SEOUL, Seoul Autumn Festa 2026
- Ministry of Education, 2027 CSAT on 19 November 2026 (Korean)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Kimchi Festival
- The Asia Business Daily, Major ski resorts open from 21 November (20 November 2025)
Book the basics for your Korea trip
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Related Guides
- Korea Travel Toolkit: what to book before you fly
- Best Time to Visit Korea – month by month
- Korea in December – next month
- Korea Packing List – layers
- Ski Trip from Seoul – resorts and shuttles
- Where to Stay in Seoul – neighbourhoods
- Korea Itinerary 7 Days – a week plan
- Nami Island and Petite France – foliage day trip
- Kimchi in Korea – kimjang and tasting
- Christmas in Seoul – holiday lights
- Cherry Blossom Korea 2027 – spring
- Seoul Nightlife – evenings
- Pepero Day 2026: Nov 11 Gift Guide and Best Spots in Seoul
- Seoraksan Day Trip from Seoul: Best Bus, Tour and Hike
Last checked 16 October 2026 against KMA, VisitKorea, the Korea Forest Service forecast and the KKday and GetYourGuide product pages. Forecast dates can change with weather.
